Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen watched the old man board the light boat. The elderly woman assisted him aboard and they gradually drifted away.

Scenes like that continued to unfold before him, and gradually, only one light boat remained in the river.

Countless confused souls still stood on the shore. It seemed they had remembered something and realized their current situation.

”I’m dead!? I don’t want to die! I’m so young, why did I die!?”

”Damn it, why me? Why me? My grand ambitions have just begun, how can I die like this!”

Curses echoed, and the remaining light boat slowly approached Fang Chen.

The boatman stood up and looked toward Fang Chen, taking off his conical hat with a smile. ”Daoist Fang, why have you not come abroad?”

Fang Chen’s expression turned complex. ”Old Temple Master, so this is what you meant by we’ll meet each other again?”

The boatman was none other than the Old Temple Master of Wulong Temple.

”What else? If I don’t row the boat for you, you won’t be able to cross the Forgotten River.” The Old Temple Master smiled, then paused. ”But truth be told, you were quite handsome in your heyday.”

His smile widened. ”Are you confused? That’s only natural. After all, it’s your first time walking through the Underworld. It’s normal not to understand many of the rules. Take the Forgotten River as an example. If you don’t have anyone who remembers you here, you would not be able to cross it.

The Old Temple Master gazed at the wandering souls on the shore with a look of deep sentiment. ”Look at those wandering souls; their plight is miserable. They can’t cross the Forgotten River, so they can either wander around the human realm or sink into the Forgotten River. Those who sink could chance upon someone who remembers them. Those who wander about, however, have no hope of reincarnation.”

Fang Chen was slightly stunned. ”What do you mean by that?”

”To put it simply, Fang Daoist, only after crossing the Forgotten River can you truly say you’ve undergone the soul-crossing ritual.”

The Old Temple Master of Wulong Temple continued, ”The conditions for crossing the Forgotten River are simple, yet also difficult. As long as someone below remembers you and is willing to sacrifice their own lifespan to fetch you, you can cross. This light boat is formed from my very own lifespan.”

He paused. ”The person who remembers you can be a parent, a sibling, a friend, or even a lover. Look at them, it’s tragic. No one is coming for them. And that elderly couple earlier? Their son was unfilial, so after he dies, no one will come for him either.”

At this point, the Old Temple Master suddenly chuckled, sizing up Fang Chen from top to bottom.

”You’re quite unlucky as well. I thought someone would come to fetch you and you wouldn’t need my help, saving me from sacrificing my lifespan. But it turns out... no one’s coming for you either.”

Fang Chen asked, ”How much did that person give you for you to sacrifice your lifespan to fetch me?”

”What did he give me? They arranged a minor role for me in the Underworld. Does that count?” answered the old man, chuckling. He grabbed Fang Chen’s sleeve and pulled him aboard the light boat. ”Enough talking. I’m only taking you once. After this, if you keep coming in and out, I’ll be charging you. You’re not dead, so you don’t have any lifespan to use up when wandering the Underworld.”

Fang Chen turned to look back and saw some of the wandering souls that were unwilling to accept their fate leaping into the Forgotten River.

Suddenly, the calm Forgotten River became filled with a chilling, sinister aura, and the stench of blood wafted through the air. Countless snakes, insects, rats, and ants emerged from the water.

Then, blood-soaked hands and fierce souls appeared, pulling the wandering souls that had just jumped into the river down into its depths.

Soon, the river surface returned to its previous tranquility, as if everything just now had been an illusion.

The Old Temple Master chuckled lightly. ”The path to the Yellow Springs is not one to stay on for long. Staying too long will scatter the soul. You either wait in the Forgotten River for someone to come for you, or you return to the human world. These are the only two choices given.”

”So many die every day, yet the wandering souls here are few,” mused Fang Chen.

The Old Temple Master explained, ”To reach the path of the Yellow Springs is already a rare stroke of luck. Most wandering souls can only drift in the human world, gradually worn down by the years.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”Old Temple Master, you’ve only been dead for a little over a year, yet you know so much.”

The Old Temple Master glanced at him and said indifferently, ”I know what you’re thinking. I’ve walked the Underworld many times myself, so naturally I know a little more. You will experience this as well.”

As he spoke, a bridge stretching across the sky slowly appeared. The other end of the bridge was hidden from view. The visible part of the bridge stretched over the Forgotten River, and at that moment, countless light boats came from all directions and began to get on the bridge.

One of the boats was filled with over a hundred soldiers, their armor battered and their swords broken, engaged in excited conversation.

The leader of this group wore more luxurious armor, indicating that he was the commander of these soldiers.

”My lord, if we cross this bridge, will we be able to reincarnate?”

”Thankfully, you are here to guide us. I have had no parents, no relatives, or friends since I was young. Without you, I would have been a lonely soul.”

”What a pity. The Tiger Empire was defeated. If there is a next life, I want to join the military again and fight to the death against the Yue Empire.”

”Everyone, once we cross this bridge, we will enter the Underworld. Whether you can reincarnate depends on your fate and circumstances.”

”What!? Does reincarnation really have such requirements?”

”Of course. But cross the bridge first, and I will explain everything later.”

The general leading the group stepped onto the bridge first. One by one, his soldiers followed.

When it was time for him to leave, the general hesitated. He turned and looked at Fang Chen before stepping forward and cupping his fist.

”Lord,” he called out.

Fang Chen nodded lightly. ”Do we know each other?”

The soldier spoke, his voice filled with unease, ”You, my lord, are clearly a master who has walked the Underworld. I have a request and would like to know if you could help...”

The Old Temple Master rolled his eyes. ”If you want help, you need to offer some of your Yin Lifespan. How much of it can you offer?”

The soldier turned nervous. ”O-One year?”

”The starting price is five years. You’re only offering one year?”

The Old Temple Master waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a pesky insect. ”Go away. You’re bad luck.”

The soldier lowered his head and humbly said, ”I don’t have much Yin Lifespan left, and I still need some for my brothers here. My lord, please show mercy this time and accept a little less. Next time, I will definitely make up for it. I swear I will repay you.”

The soldier’s companions froze in place, and then quickly surged forward.

”My lord, why are you acting so subservient!” questioned one of the soldiers.

”Who is this man!? Don’t be afraid, we are all brothers here!”

”Quiet! This is a master who has walked the Underworld. He’s not someone like us who are just dead souls.”

The soldiers’ faces darkened, and they looked at Fang Chen with a hint of fear, afraid their actions might provoke him.

”Old Temple Master, please don’t speak,” said Fang Chen. He smiled and motioned for the Old Temple Master to be quiet, then turned his attention to the soldier. ”Tell me what it is you seek.”

The soldier was taken aback, not expecting any response. He had only asked out of hope. However, now that he had been answered, he wouldn’t let the opportunity slip. ”I had a fiancée who I couldn’t marry before I died. I’d like to ask you, to go to her and tell her not to wait for me anymore. She should find a good family and marry.”

Afraid that Fang Chen might refuse, he quickly gave her address and handed over a black copper coin, presenting it to Fang Chen with the utmost respect. In that instant, his soul seemed to grow even more transparent, his face turning paler.

Fang Chen glanced at the black coin and smiled. ”I won’t accept this for now. If I can’t find her and fulfill your request, I would’ve taken your money for nothing. I can’t do that.”

The soldier was stunned.

The Old Temple Master glanced at Fang Chen with a strange look. ”In the Underworld, we collect payment before doing anything. If we collect the payment and can’t fulfill the task, it doesn’t matter. It’s just the way of those who’ve been through the soul-crossing ritual.”

At that moment, a figure emerged from the bridge. ”Indeed, it’s the way of those who’ve gone through the soul-crossing ritual. Who are you, to break such a rule?”

This person was tall and imposing, with a gale of wind swirling around him as he walked.

The surrounding souls scattered in fear upon seeing him, unwilling to approach.